15 Days
Daily Tour
6 people
English
Arrival in Dar es Salaam and birding at Pugu Hills or Jangwani Salt Pans, depending on the arrival time. Night in Dar es Salaam.
Depart from Dar es Salaam with picnic lunches and drive to Uluguru Mountains for an evening birding session. Night at Arc Hotel.
Explore Uluguru Mountains for endemics like Uluguru bushshrike, Uluguru Mountain greenbul, and Yellow-throated mountain greenbul, among others.
Search Ukaguru and Rubeho Mountains for endemics like Rubeho double-collared sunbird and Rubeho warbler. Night in a lodge.
Birding in Mikumi National Park for Miombo specialties, including Miombo blue-eared starlings and Racket-tailed roller. Night at Tanswiss Cottages.
Birding in Mikumi National Park for Miombo specialties, including Miombo blue-eared starlings and Racket-tailed roller. Night at Tanswiss Cottages.
Depart to Mufindi Highlands Forest for an evening bird walk and a full day of birding, targeting endemics like Iringa akalat and Kipengere seedeater. Night at Mufindi Farm Lodge.
Drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park for evening and full-day birding, focusing on endemics like Udzungwa forest partridge and Rufous-winged sunbird. Night at Udzungwa Falls Lodge.
Travel from Udzungwa to Magombera Forest Reserve for half a day of birding, with chances to spot the rare Lesser seedcracker and Pel's fishing owl. Overnight at Udzungwa Falls Lodge.
Drive to Kilombero Valley to search for endemics like Kilombero weaver and White-tailed cisticolas. Night at Ifakara Hotel.
Depart from Ifakara to Dar es Salaam with lunch boxes, stopping at Ruvu River for the recently described Ruvu weaver. Finally, drive to the city or airport for drop-off.
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all!
On our birding and wildlife safari, we often begin birding early in the morning, usually having breakfast before dawn. Days will usually start at first light to catch activity in the morning before the day warms up and activity slows down. The pace will be relaxed and most of the birding will be from the vehicle. On some days, we may rest for a mid-day ‘siesta’. During leisurely dinners we discuss the day’s activities and review the day’s list of sightings, and make plans for the next day. There will be a few optional nocturnal outings, to search for owls and nightjars.
Most of the day will be spent in the vehicle viewing wildlife and birds. The vehicles are modified Toyota Land Cruiser, specifically designed for safaris, in which the roof pops up, allowing you to stand up fully and take unobstructed photos or view the wildlife. We will make frequent stops to clean toilet facilities throughout the day. Some days will include longer drives to get to the next destination. The roads can be bumpy and dusty.
East Africa is a diverse region, and we visit montane forests, huge grasslands, arid plains, coastal beaches and expansive wetlands. Short heavy rainfalls can happen at any time, and occasionally humidity can be an inconvenience.
Please note that the detailed itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a guide and may be changed due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors.
We stay in mostly good quality accommodations, often in excellent birding localities. Some accommodations may be ‘tented camps’, which are very comfortable walled tents with proper beds and indoor plumbing.
Village Weaver Birding Tours comprises a team of expert bird guides specializing in personalized birding experiences across East Africa. With an in-depth knowledge of the region's birdlife, they design intimate small-group safaris and family adventures.
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